Former Chief Justice and United Green Movement (UGM) presidential flagbearer David Maraga has launched a scathing response to President William Ruto's Address to the Nation, accusing the Head of State of failing to answer concerns over the rising cost of living, corruption, human rights and governance while offering what he described as "false hope" to Kenyans. The statement was issued shortly after President Ruto's national address on Thursday night.
In a four-page rebuttal dated July 30, Maraga challenged Kenyans to assess whether their lives had improved since President Ruto assumed office.
"Are you better off today than you were when William Ruto took office? Look at your table. Look at your pay slip, if you still have one. Look at your children's school fees. Look at the price of unga, of fuel, of everything that keeps a family alive," Maraga said, before adding, "It is no."
The former Chief Justice argued that the President had failed to address what he termed the country's most pressing concerns, including the high cost of living, corruption and alleged violations of constitutional rights.
Maraga accused the government of weakening institutions that are meant to drive national development, saying development plans cannot succeed in institutions that have been captured by private interests.
"President Ruto has effectively abandoned Vision 2030 before accounting for why its central promises were not achieved, and now asks the country to embrace another grand development vision," he said. "A government that has weakened the very institutions required to implement national policy cannot credibly promise a new era of development."
He also took issue with President Ruto's repeated references to the Constitution during his speech, arguing that the government had failed to uphold its principles.
"He cannot invoke the Constitution in a speech while trampling it in government," Maraga said, claiming innocent citizens had been "tortured, killed and abducted" and that constitutional rights had been undermined.
The former Chief Justice further criticised the President's assertion that Kenya had strengthened its democratic foundations.
"He claims that we have secured the foundations of our democracy," Maraga said. "The foundations of democracy are not secured by declaration. They are secured when every Kenyan can speak, assemble, protest and hold government to account without fear."
Maraga also accused the administration of failing to tackle corruption and the rising cost of living, saying reckless governance and borrowing had placed immense pressure on households.
"Corruption has worsened with this President. The cost of living has crushed households under the weight of reckless governance and reckless borrowing. This is not a policy disagreement. It is a national emergency, and Kenyans know it," he stated.
Looking ahead to the 2027 General Election, Maraga outlined what he believes should be the priorities of the next administration, saying restoring the rule of law must come before new policy agendas.
"From 2027 to 2032, the leadership that replaces this administration must have one overriding priority above all others: resetting this country to the rule of law and to constitutionalism," he said.
He added that accountability should be central to the next government, calling for stronger action against corruption and recovery of stolen public resources.
"Those who have looted this country's resources with impunity must be held to account through strong penal sanctions, and every shilling of stolen and corruptly acquired wealth returned to the Kenyan people," Maraga said.
The former Chief Justice also accused President Ruto of avoiding key issues in his national address, including corruption, alleged police abuses, enforced disappearances and human rights violations.
"And the subject he avoided entirely tonight: the runaway corruption, the rogue police units, the hit squads, the forced disappearances used to silence dissent, and the human rights violations that have made Kenyans afraid to speak in their own country," he said.
Maraga concluded by urging Kenyans to reflect on whether their circumstances had improved and insisted that an alternative leadership anchored on the rule of law and accountability remained possible.
"If the answer is no, know that you are not alone, and know that a different Kenya, governed by law, accountable to its people and free of state capture, is possible. It is coming," he said.